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When Katie Brown sends Mrprsdnt Bluegrass to post on Saturday, July 5 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino it will be a first. Not only is Mrprsdnt Bluegrass the first horse that 20-year-old Katie Brown purchased but it will be the first major stakes race the duo has competed in.

Brown, a newcomer to owning harness racing horses, has a chance to win one of the state’s most premier stakes—the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers—on July 5 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Her first purchase, Mrprsdnt Bluegrass, will face nine other rivals in the second round of the Indiana Sires Stakes finals action.

Brown, like most young girls her age, was unsure of her next move before beginning work under the guidance of veteran trainer, driver, Joe Putnam during the summer of 2013 but quickly found out what exactly it was she wanted to do.

During her time at the Putnam Stable she was introduced gradually but quickly learned the ins and outs of the harness racing industry. When asked about her time spent at the Putnam stable the conversation quickly returns to the 3-year-old chestnut son of Third Straight-Mannart New Start.

“My red horse,” Brown said with a twinkle in her eye. “I fell in love with him after a week of working there and I knew right then that I wanted to own horses, especially him.”

“I connected with him instantly,” Brown continued. “I wanted to buy him from the minute I started working with him and didn’t want anyone else to have him. I didn’t know if it would work out or if I would have the opportunity to own him but the day I got the call that I was able to buy him was one of the happiest days ever.”

Brown, along with her trainer, purchased Mrsprsdnt Bluegrass in 2013 from breeder Luel Overstreet who had the horse in training with Putnam. Mrsprsdnt Bluegrass didn’t find the winner’s circle for his new connections until 2014 but has won much more than that in the eyes of his owner.

“He is the reason I go to the barn in the mornings,” Brown noted. “He makes all the early mornings, late nights and hard work worth it. He’s just the best.”

The three-year-old pacer has put together a 9-1-1-1 season while earning $11,701 in 2014. He set a lifetime best of 1:56.2 after a sharp, gate-to-wire effort in his seasonal debut for Brown. In his most recent outing, Mrprsdnt Bluegrass was second in the elimination of the Indiana Sires Stakes on June 28 at Hoosier Park behind If I Lose pacing the mile in 1:53.4.The $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final will be the first big test for Mrpsdnt Bluegrass but his connections say he’s ready for it.

“I’m already nervous,” she said with a smile. “I get so nervous when he races but I’m happy just getting to watch him race and know that he will do it if he can.”

The top two and three-year-old trotters and pacers in the sport of harness racing descended upon Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, October 31 to battle it out in search of the lucrative purses offered on the 14-race card as Grand Circuit racing action made its fourth and final stop at Hoosier Park this season. With purses topping the $1.2 million mark, the stakes filled card delivered some outstanding harness racing battles despite unfavorable weather conditions in the central Indiana region.

The $193,000 Moni Maker

Shake It Cerry

The three-year-old trotting fillies kicked off the stakes action in the $193,000 Moni Maker Stakes and it was Shake It Cerry who continued her winning ways to find the winner’s circle in 1:57 over a track rated good. With regular driver Ron Pierce in the sulky, Shake It Cerry switched up her tactics and came from off the pace to win by a length and a half.

Leaving from post six in the talented field of nine, Shake It Cerry eased off the gate and settled along the rail in fifth. Paul Macdonell sent Riveting Rosie away from the gate firing and the duo set first half fractions of :27.2 and :59 while the rest of the field sorted out positions. Pierce had Shake It Cerry perfectly placed second over as the field reached the three-quarter clocking in 1:29.4.

Using a :26.2 final quarter, Shake It Cerry saved her best for last and was able to track down her stablemate Lifetime Pursuit and Yannick Gingras late in the lane. Cee Bee Yes and Scott Zeron also staged a big rally late in the mile to round out the trifecta.

“I’ve been racing her on the front for most of her starts this year but I did race her off the pace last year some,” Pierce noted after the victory. “Obviously with the factors tonight, I didn’t want to be on the front so I knew if I just floated her out of there and put her somewhere close she would do the rest. Tonight, that was like a training mile for her, she was that good tonight.”

Shake It Cerry has now won 13 of 15 races this season while amassing $899,936 in earnings for her connections, Solveig’s Racing Partners. Jimmy Takter trains the daughter of Donato Hanover-Solveig.

The $176,500 Nadia Lobell

Color’s A Virgin proved her dominance once again in the three-year-old pacing filly ranks as she overcame the outside post eight and an unfavorable first-over trip to find the winner’s circle in the $176,500 Nadia Lobell. Stopping the timer in 1:55, Color’s A Virgin has yet to be defeated in four outings since taking home top honors in the 2014 edition of the Jugette earlier this season.

Color’s A Virgin

With regular driver Trace Tetrick at the lines, Color’s A Virgin left just enough to grab a spot along the rail in third while Katie Said and Marcus Miller dictated first half fractions of :26.2 and :58.3. Color’s A Virgin began her quest to the front down the backside and reached the leader’s wheel at the third station in 1:28.2. As the field turned for home, Tetrick asked his mount for more and she dug in gamely to pace on to the wire finishing two lengths in front of Gallie Bythe Beach and Tim Tetrick.

Trained by Brian Brown, Color’s A Virgin has now won 16 of 25 lifetime victories. The daughter of Always A Virgin-Full Color has amassed $472,622 in her sophomore season for her owners Emerald Highland Farms.

The $230,000 Carl Erskine Trot

E L Titan and Ron Pierce pulled one of the biggest upsets of the evening in the $230,000 Carl Erskine Trot as the duo was able to hold off the heavily favored Father Patrick late in the lane to score in 1:57.2. At the wire, the margin of victory was a half-length and E L Titan was able to survive a judge’s inquiry to score his third of the season.

Odds On Amethyst and Jimmy Takter were the first to get a call as they set the opening fractions of :27.1 and :59.2 before ever feeling a threat. Pierce made his winning move down the backside as he gave E L Titan the green light and reached the front at the three-quarter clocking in a leisurely 1:30. E L Titan appeared strong on the front but was quickly joined on the outside by Father Patrick and Yannick Gingras. Father Patrick appeared to be up to the task but E L Titan wasn’t finished. Using a :27.2 final quarter, E L Titan found another gear to hold off all charges.

“It was a spontaneous decision coming out of the first turn to move to the front,” Pierce said after the victory. “With the slow quarter I had to move to stay out of trouble so once I did I just sent him to the front. I had to use him pretty hard to get there but he was strong tonight.”

“I raced him (E L Titan) in Chicago a few weeks ago and he was loaded,” Pierce continued. “I felt then if I would have been closer to Father Patrick I could have beat him that night. Tonight, coming around the last turn he still felt good and I knew we had enough to hold him (Father Patrick) off even having to use him so hard early in the race.”

For E L Titan, it was his sixth lifetime victory from 12 career outings. The son of Muscle Hill-Courtney Hall increased his seasonal earnings to $363,212 for trainer Riina Rekila and owner Erkki Laakkonen.

The $211,500 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby

Bettor’s Edge and Matt Kakaley found the Hoosier Park winner’s circle for the second consecutive week after winning the $211,500 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby in 1:53. Bettor’s Edge was able to stage a big rally in the late stages of the race to best his stablemate Sweet Lou and Ron Pierce at the wire.

Leaving from post four in the talented group of ten, Bettor’s Edge was uninvolved in the early stages of the race while the field battled for early position. Thinking Out Loud and John Campbell fired off the gate to reach the first quarter in :26.3 but yielded the lead to Sweet Lou just before the half in :58.

Sweet Lou called the shots to the third station in 1:26.1 but was quickly joined on the outside by Clear Vision and Tim Tetrick. Sweet Lou was able to hold off Clear Vision but Bettor’s Edge loomed large in the background. Kakaley found late racing room and Bettor’s Edge exploded to the wire to finish a neck in front. With Clear Vision holding on for third and Foiled Again taking fourth place honors, the Burke stablemates completed the superfecta.

“I have been leaving quite a bit with him lately and tonight I wanted to change it up a bit,” Kakaley noted after the victory. “With the weather too, the front end was not the place to be. It ended up working out really well for us but I was a little worried around the last turn because they kind of got away from us. I was able to move him out to the center of the track and he was strong all the way to the wire. He was really game tonight.”
The five-year-old gelded son of Bettor’s Delight-Spring Wind scored his eighth of the season and gave driver Matt Kakaley his third win of the night. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and M1 Stable, Bettor’s Edge pushed his seasonal bankroll to $673.784.
The $275,000 Monument Circle

Always B Miki continued his winning ways at Hoosier Park as he used a near gate-to-wire effort to win the $275,000 Monument Circle pace for three-year-old colts and geldings in 1:52. With driver David Miller back in the sulky, Always B Miki scored his fourth consecutive win and second consecutive Hoosier Park victory.

Sent off as the 3-2 second choice, Always B Miki settled for a spot along the rail while Big Boy Dreams and Tim Tetrick left aggressively for the front from post nine through an opening quarter in 26. Limelight Beach and Yannick Gingras benefitted from a pocket seat while the heavily favored JK Endofanera and Ron Pierce were next in line in third.

Unable to wait, David Miller sent Always B Miki to the front down the backside and the duo reached the top spot at the half in :56.2. Somewhere In L A and Brett Miller began the first-over attack with Let’s Drink On It and Tyler Smith in tow. While the rest of the field closed in, Always B Miki paced away. Finishing two lengths in front of a hard charging Limelight Beach, Always B Miki used a :26.1 final quarter to hold off all charges.

“The trip didn’t work out exactly like I thought it would,” Miller noted in the winner’s circle. “I was hoping to get some cover but I knew I had to move down the backside or I was going to get locked in. I was worried with the wind and things that he might not be able to hold them off but he raced huge. When I asked him to go around the last turn he felt strong. He was able to hold his speed and he dug in all the way to the wire, that mile really impressed me tonight.”

Trained by Joe Holloway, Always B Miki notched the 11th victory from 18 seasonal outings. The son of Always A Virgn-Artstopper has now earned $914,366 lifetime for his connections of Bluewood Stable, Val D’Or Farms and Roll The Dice Stable.

It is nothing out of the ordinary to see a field of horses line-up behind the Hoosier Park starting gate but racing fans at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, October 30 will have the chance to see something they don’t often see. A field of all grey pacers will line up behind the starting gate to battle it out in two divisions of the $10,000 “Grey Ghost Halloween Pacing Derby” at Hoosier Park.

Hoosier Park’s Racing Secretary, Scott Peine assembled two fields of six “ghostly” pacers in honor of the upcoming Halloween holiday. According to the United States Trotting Association, less than five percent of all harness horses are grey in color. Slated as the fifth and seventh races on the 12-race card, the “Grey Ghost Halloween Pacing Derby” will feature two divisions and are aptly named “The Freddy Krueger” division and “The Jason Vorhees” division.

In the opening division, Trace Tetrick has been enlisted to drive the morning line favorite, Maddysonofagun, from post four for trainer Tom T. Tetrick. The four-year-old gelded son of Modern Art will look to score his second victory of the season for owners Mary Alice and Tom D. Tetrick.

In the second division, Casey’s Lil’ Harry will look to score his second win of the season as the 5-2 morning line choice for driver Don Harmon from post five. Trained by Krista Harmon, the grey gelding is sired by Hawaiian Cowboy and owned by John Moody.

Just one day later, Hoosier Park will offer arguably the best 14-race card of the 2014 live racing season on Friday, October 31 as Grand Circuit racing action returns to Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths mile oval. Hoosier Park will host a standout card that includes the $275,000 Monument Circle Pace for three-year-old pacing colts, the $230,000 Carl Erskine trot, and the $211,500 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby.

In conjunction with the Halloween festivities, Hoosier Park will also host the 2014 Monster Bash on Friday, October 31 beginning at 9:00 p.m. in the Terrace level of the grandstand. The 2014 Monster Bash will offer live music, drink specials and a costume contest with a top prize of $1,000 in each of the contest categories.

For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule at Hoosier Park, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.

Harness racing’s richest horse this year, Father Patrick, will look to add to his bankroll when he visits Indiana’s Hoosier Park for Friday’s $230,000 Carl Erskine Trot for 3-year-olds.

Father Patrick, who on Tuesday ascended to the No. 1 spot in the weekly Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, knocking Sebastian K from the position he held each of the previous 23 weeks of the rankings, drew post one for the Erskine with regular driver Yannick Gingras. Father Patrick has earned $1.38 million this year.

The Erskine is part of a stakes-filled card at Hoosier, along with the $275,000 Monument Circle for 3-year-old male pacers, $211,500 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby for older pacers, $193,000 Moni Maker for 3-year-old female trotters, and $176,500 Nadia Lobell for 3-year-old female pacers.

Father Patrick hails from the stable of trainer Jimmy Takter, who conditions the five richest trotters in North America this season: 3-year-old colts Father Patrick, Nuncio and Trixton, followed by 3-year-old fillies Shake It Cerry and Lifetime Pursuit. Nuncio, who last weekend won the Yonkers Trot, has earned $1.29 million. It marks the first time in harness racing history that one trainer has produced two million-dollar trotters in the same division.

Shake It Cerry and Lifetime Pursuit will square off in the Moni Maker Stakes.

Father Patrick is coming off a three-length victory in the American-National Stakes at Chicago’s Balmoral Park on Oct. 11. He has won 11 of 14 starts this year, including the Canadian Trotting Classic, Beal Memorial, Zweig Memorial, and Stanley Dancer Memorial.

He has five wins in his most recent six races, with his only setback being a second-place finish to Nuncio in the Kentucky Futurity on Oct. 5.

“He got a nice little break after the American-National,” Takter said. “He had a little foot issue (in the Futurity). He wasn’t happy about that. In his start in Chicago, I saw right away he was on the right foot there.

“It’s got to be perfect for these horses, that’s the way it is.”

Father Patrick, a son of Cantab Hall-Gala Dream owned by the Christina Takter-led Father Patrick Stable ownership group, has won 21 of 25 career races and $2.12 million. He was the 2013 Dan Patch Award winner for best 2-year-old male trotter.

Takter also sends Odds On Amethyst to the Erskine. Odds On Amethyst has won three of 10 races this season, but gone off stride in five losses.

The race also includes home-track star Rose Run Parker, from the stable of trainer Ron Burke. Rose Run Parker, who has never raced anywhere but Hoosier Park, has won 13 of 15 races this year and $324,700. He will start from post three with regular driver Ricky Macomber Jr.

Shake It Cerry has won 12 of 14 races this year and $803,436 while Lifetime Pursuit has won eight of 15 starts and $706,729. Shake It Cerry, the 2013 Dan Patch Award winner for best 2-year-old female trotter, leaves from post six with driver Ron Pierce while Lifetime Pursuit has post two with Gingras.

Last time out, Shake It Cerry beat Lifetime Pursuit by three-quarters of a length in the American-National for 3-year-old female trotters.

“Both of them raced very good in Chicago,” Takter said. “They’re going to meet again in Indiana. They’re both very, very nice fillies. They’ve been able to stay sound.”

Takter’s Somewhere In L A, who bumped the starting gate and suffered a nosebleed in the American-National for 3-year-old male pacers and struggled to a seventh-place finish, takes on the Burke Stable’s JK Endofanera, Limelight Beach, Big Boy Dreams, At Press Time, and Forty Five Red in the Monument Circle.

“He’s such a good horse,” Takter said about Somewhere In L A. “I love that horse. He’s as good as any 3-year-old pacing colt out there. He’s very, very tough. I trained him back twice now, and no bleeding. I talked to (Dr.) Patty Hogan and she thought he’s going to be fine.”

Takter’s Uffizi Hanover is among the nine 3-year-old filly pacers in the Nadia Lobell, which also includes Jugette winner Color’s A Virgin from the stable of Brian Brown.

“Uffizi trained so good,” Takter said. “She’s been having so much problems in the turns, but she was fantastic today. Uffizi, when she has the right day, she’s good.”

The Burke Stable is also well represented in the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, sending out Sweet Lou, Foiled Again, Bettor’s Edge, Clear Vision, and Easy Again.

Sweet Lou, who has won 10 of 16 races and $958,558 this year, will try to snap a three-race losing streak. Foiled Again has won six of 23 starts and $701,643 this season, pushing his North American record for career purses to $6.73 million.

It was a night ruled by favorites as Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to a 14-race card on Friday, October 11 featuring the fifth and final round of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for the two-year-old divisions. Four Indiana Sires Stakes champions were crowned as the publics’ choice delivered in each of the four divisions.

Airman Batten

The action-packed night opened with the first $75,000 final for two-year-old trotting colts and Airman Batten looked every bit the part of a 1-5 favorite as he overcame a tough, first-over bid to score in 1:57.1. Driven by regular pilot LeWayne Miller, Airman Batten was uninvolved in the early stages of the race but quickly made up for lost time just past the half. As the field turned for home, Airman Batten began to put his talent on display and trotted on to the wire to win by three-lengths. The victory was the tenth win of the season and fourth Indiana Sires Stakes final win for the son of Swan For All-Ladylike Volo.

“I was happy with the trip,” Miller noted after the win. “I just wanted to make sure I didn’t get away too far back because I knew he would do his part. When we turned for home I was pretty comfortable because I could tell he still had plenty left. He’s just a professional in everything he does.”

Trained by Erv Miller, Airman Batten has now won ten of 12 lifetime starts and sports a career bankroll of $217,900. Owned by Paymaq Racing, Harvey Eisman, and Greg Gillis, Airman Batten will now be pointed toward the $200,000 Indiana Super Final slated for October 18 at Hoosier Park.

Fresh off a decisive win in the Indiana Sires Stakes elimination last week, Churita and Trace Tetrick turned in another dominant performance to take home top honors in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for two-year-old trotting fillies. Scoring in a lifetime best of 1:56.4, Churita took the lead just past the half and remained uncontested before trotting home to a five length victory.

“She was really sharp tonight,” Tetrick noted. “She has matured quite a bit from the beginning of the year and tonight she was all business. The trip worked out for us and she showed a lot of class tonight.”

Trained by Matt Rheinheimer, Churita kept her seven race win streak in-tact as she scored her third Indiana Sires Stakes final win and seventh career victory from nine lifetime outings. From the first crop of Airzoom Lindy, the freshman filly has now amassed $163,225 for her owner Jackie Porter.

As the stakes action switched gears, Rockin Good and Jared Finn kept the favorite trend alive for the night as they prevailed in a tight photo for win in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for two-year-old pacing fillies. Using a sharp, front running effort, Rockin Good held off a late charge from Feetonthedashboard and Dale Hiteman to score in a lifetime best effort of 1:53.2.

Trained by Jared Finn, who also co-owns the filly with Mark Finn, Rockin Good scored the biggest win of her freshman career from ten seasonal starts. From the first crop of Rockin Image, Rockin Good has now earned $81,250 for her connections.

Freaky Feet Pete

The two-year-old pacing colts completed the stakes action on the evening’s card and it was Freaky Feet Pete who continued his winning ways to score his fifth consecutive win in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final. Out nearly every step of the mile, Freaky Feet Pete put away all challengers in the final eighth of the mile to score in 1:52.1. The victory was also the third win of the night for Hoosier Park’s leading driver, Trace Tetrick.

“When I looked at the sheet I thought there was going to be a lot of early speed in the race,” Tetrick noted after the win. “I wanted to come from off the pace and it ended up working out because we got cover.”

“Tonight was the first time he’s had to come from off a helmet and he did everything I asked,” Tetrick continued. “He is just a great colt that loves his job. The Rheinheimers have done a great job with both of their two-year-olds this year they have been a lot of fun to drive.”

Trained by Larry Rheinheimer, Freaky Feet Pete scored his third Indiana Sires Stakes final win and eighth career victory from nine lifetime outings. The son of Rockin Image-Skyway Lori has now earned $161,950 for his owners Mary Jo Rheinheimer and Marty Rheinheimer. Freaky Feet Pete currently holds Hoosier Park’s track record for two-year-old pacing colts with his 1:50.3 time in stakes action earlier in the season.

The 2014 stakes season will culminate with the top ten horses from each of the previous $75,000 finals returning to compete in a $200,000 Super Final on October 18 at Hoosier Park. With purses leaning toward the $2 million mark, the 14-race card slated for October 18 will be one of the richest nights offered in the Indiana Sires Stakes program.

Hoosier Park will offer arguably the best 14-race card of the 2014 live racing season to-date on Saturday, September 20. Grand Circuit racing action will make its way to Hoosier Park for the second time this season and with it, bring the top rated horses in North America to Hoosier Park as they convene on the seven-eighths mile oval in search of the lucrative purses offered on the card beginning at 5:15 p.m.

The world’s fastest trotter, Sebastian K will highlight a powerful field of ten for Hoosier Park’s richest trotting event, The Centaur Trotting Classic which has been slated as the twelfth race on the 14-race card. Fresh off his win in the $236,000 Crawford Farms Trot, Sebastian K has won eight of nine outings this year with a career bankroll of over $2.9 million and will start from post six with driver, trainer Ake Svenstadt at the lines.

Joining the stellar cast of entrants in The Centaur Trotting Classic will be Hambletonian Winner, Market Share who has drawn the coveted rail position. The winner of last year’s edition of the Centaur Trotting Classic and Hoosier Park’s current track record holder for older horses on the trot, Uncle Peter will start from post seven.

“I am overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of exceptional horses that are coming to Hoosier Park,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager or Racing, Rick Moore noted. “This is unequivocally the best harness racing card to take place at Hoosier Park this season and we couldn’t be more excited to showcase this night of nights to racing fans across the country.”

In a continued partnership with Hoosier Park, HRTV, The Network for Horse Sports, will provide exclusive coverage for all the Grand Circuit racing action on Saturday. HRTV will be on property to provide racing fans with exclusive coverage of all the festivities happening on and off the race track. Racing fans can also catch exclusive interviews from drivers and trainers racing at Hoosier Park on the HRTV programming.

In conjunction with all the action taking place on the track, Hoosier Park will host the inaugural “Food Truck Throwdown” in Hoosier Park’s yard. Starting at 5 p.m., racing fans will have the opportunity to select from a variety of the best food trucks in the area and local craft beers. The Food Truck Throwdown ticket package costs $20 and includes: $10 food truck voucher, 16 oz. Dan Patch mug, two craft beer pints, and a mystery racing voucher that could be worth up to $1,000. All ticket proceeds will benefit the Madison County United Way.

Racing fans will also have the opportunity to enjoy the annual FarmTastic event, a farm themed and family friendly day at the races. The event will feature an antique tractor exhibit, a tractor parade, children’s activities and farm food favorites. Free sweet corn and watermelon will be available while supplies last.

Hoosier Park’s stakes filled 14-race card will begin at its regularly scheduled post of 5:15 p.m. Hoosier Park’s live racing action will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 15.

As one of only two mares in the field, Lady Blitz pulled the 10-1 upset over her male counterparts in the featured event of the evening, a $22,000 Invitational trot, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, September 13. Given a perfect, pocket trip by driver James Yoder, Lady Blitz stopped the timer in 1:53.4 to score her seventh win of the season.

Leaving from post five, Yoder sent Lady Blitz away from the gate firing to grab a pocket seat behind Creatine and Trace Tetrick who got the first call in :27.1. Creatine led the field to the second station in :56.2 but was quickly joined on the outside by the post time favorite Natural Herbie and Verlin Yoder who were unable to find a spot along the rail.

After being parked out for much of the mile, Natural Herbie pressed on and was able to reach the leader’s wheel at the three-quarter clocking in 1:25.2. While much of the damage was being done on the front, Lady Blitz waited patiently to make her move from the pocket.

Natural Herbie was able to wear down the tiring leader but the taxing trip began to take its’ toll on him as well. Lady Blitz was given the green light and she exploded from the pocket to finish two lengths in front of her stablemate Natural Herbie who held on gamely for second. Anaffairtoremember, the other mare in the field, rounded out the trifecta with driver Peter Wrenn in the sulky. As the publics’ fourth choice, Lady Blitz returned $23.00 to her backers at the window.

Trained and owned by Verlin Yoder, Lady Blitz scored her seventh win from 17 seasonal starts and just missed her lifetime mark by a fifth of a second with the 1:53.4 victory. The daughter of Keystone Blitz-Oriental Lady is a multiple Indiana Sires Stakes champion who now sports a lifetime bankroll of $388,281.

The upset trend continued in the featured pacing event of the evening as Thebestofjoel and Tyler Smith scored in 1:50.3 as the longest shot on the board in the $22,000 Invitational pace. Dismissed at odds of 30-1, Thebestofjoel was able to turn a pocket trip into a win and give driver Tyler Smith his fourth win of the evening. Trained by Jeff Cullipher, Thebestofjoel has now won seven of 28 seasonal starts and equaled his lifetime mark with the win.

In conjunction with the Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF), Hoosier Park Racing & Casino has donated $5,000 to save ten former race horses from slaughter. With the donation, Hoosier Park is not only helping the horses in need but hoping to raise awareness for the SRF organization who works diligently to provide race horses with homes after their racing careers are finished.

Just two weeks ago, several Standardbreds were found to be in imminent danger of shipping to slaughter. Ten Standardbreds with collective earnings of more than $1 million, to be exact, were in trouble. With the help of caring citizens, industry professionals, and Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, the Standardbred Retirement Foundation was able to rescue all 10 of the horses.

“There is an old saying that goes “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager of Racing, Rick Moore noted. “At Hoosier Park, Standardbred race horses, whether racing or retired, are our friends. For this group of horses that were facing their demise last week there was never a better time to have a friend come to the rescue. We are so pleased with the outcome of this story that could have had a much more dismal ending.”

The horses that were rescued are All American Daddy, who earned $489,000; Big Money; Chuckie Two; Desired Goal; Third Down Delight; Barretts Toy; Evil Grin; Second Thought; Dusty Lane Ralph; and Windsong Fortune, with earnings of $272,000.

The cost to take in one horse and to provide all the necessary steps of paying their fees, shipping, quarantine, rehabilitation, veterinary care, and blacksmith and dental care is approximately $1,500. Hoosier Park’s donation will be put towards the care of the animals until permanent homes can be secured.

“It is heartwarming to have the help of Hosier Park and the wonderful people who stepped up to help these horses in need,” noted Judy Bokman, SRF’s Executive Director. “It was a dire situation and it came down to the last few hours. I don’t know of anyone who would want to see these magnificent animals go this route when their careers on the track have come to an end. With that said, and that evident, we hope that people shout out to racing to do the right thing; have the industry create its own program to provide for these animals.”

All ten of the horses were removed from the situation and will now head to a quarantine facility in Delaware where they will be placed under a veterinary’s care. Once the soundness of each horse is determined, their future options will also be explored including under saddle work.

About the Standardbred Retirement Foundation: Founded in 1989, Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF) is currently caring for more than 192 retired racehorses at boarding and training facilities around the country; all are available for adoption. SRF is unique as it never relinquishes ownership and requires the veterinary of every adopted horse to provide a follow-up report semi-annually to insure each horse remains happy and healthy, for life. The program relies on tax-deductible gifts, and fund raising events such as the donation of lifetime breedings to prominent stallions, single breeding donations, and other fund raising efforts. In complement to finding them loving homes as companion horses, their program also focuses on retraining that gives them second careers in police work and therapy programs. SRF retires them with the dignity they deserve and provides them with full care for the remainder of their lives.

Lucky Jet, guided by LeWayne Miller, pulled a stunning 27-1 upset to take home top honors in the featured event of the evening, the $22,000 Rosie Harness Memorial Pace, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, September 5. With a final time of 1:50.2, Lucky Jet took advantage of a pocket trip to score his fourth win of the season.

Leaving from post three, Lucky Jet left just enough to protect his position as Ricky Macomber Jr. sent Sweet Talkin Satin away from the gate firing. Sweet Talkin Satin reached the front through the opening panel in :26.3 and remained uncontested down the backside, hitting the half in :55.2.

Some Kinda Beach and Ed Hensley began the long, first-over journey as the field approached the final turn with the heavily favored, Night Pro and Peter Wrenn in tow. Sweet Talkin Satin continued to call the shots around the third station in 1:23.2 and was able to fight off Some Kinda Beach turning for home. While the top pair battled it out on the front, Lucky Jet was looming large in the pocket.

Miller was able to find late racing room up the rail and Lucky Jet found another gear. Using a :26.3 final quarter, Lucky Jet exploded from the pocket to finish three lengths in front of Night Pro who closed hard for second. Sweet Talkin Satin held on gamely to round out the trifecta. As the longest shot on the board at odds of 27-1, Lucky Jet returned $56.00 to his backers at the window.

Trained by Tom Harmer, the son of Jereme’s Jet-My Metallica has now won four of 23 outings in 2014 while earning $62,560. Lucky Jet pushed his career bankroll to $286,995 for owners Ciara Stable and Edward Kollross.

The race was held in honor of the late Rosie Harness, who tragically passed away on Friday, August 30. A long time member of the horse racing community, Rosie trained a stable of horses with her husband Carl “Olin” Harness that raced at Hoosier Park and throughout the state of Indiana. Friends and family members of Rosie gathered on the track after the race to remember their special friend.

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will highlight the 2014 harness racing season on Saturday, September 6 with Indiana’s finest trotters and pacers convening on Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths mile oval for the annual Hoosier Champions Night, the fourth of five rounds of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals. A total of 14 races have been established and after the dust settles, eight new Indiana Sires Stakes champions will be crowned. The first race will line up behind the starting gate at 5:15 p.m.

Revamped for the 2014 season, the Indiana Sires Stakes program features five legs throughout the season, and from each leg, the top 20 horses return to compete in a final and consolation. The 2014 stakes season will culminate with the top ten horses from each of the previous $75,000 finals returning to compete in a $200,000 Super Final on October 18 at Hoosier Park.

“Our Hoosier Champions Night has become a much-anticipated event among horseman and racing fans alike,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager of Racing, Rick Moore noted. “The 2014 season has already exceeded my expectations and I am excited to offer racing fans another stellar night of racing. To have horses of this quality racing at Hoosier Park speaks volumes to where our racing program has come and where it is going.”

In its’ 21st season of live harness racing, Hoosier Park is in the midst of one of its’ fastest season to date. Sweet Lou recently lowered the overall track record to 1:47.2 in the $250,000 Dan Patch Invitational at Hoosier Park on August 8. Of the eight respective Indiana Sires Stakes divisions, five of the eight have produced track record breaking or equaling miles this season.

Freaky Feet Pete not only holds the Hoosier Park track record for two-year-old pacing colts but was also a national season’s record holder with his 1:50.4 score in Indiana Sires Stakes action earlier in the season. Guided by Trace Tetrick, Freaky Feet Pete will look to score his second $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for two-year-old pacing colts from the trailing post ten on Saturday.

Always B Miki recently shattered the track record for three-year-old pacing colts with a 1:48.4 score in the last $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final and followed that up with a win in his most recent elimination. Trained by Joe Holloway, Always B Miki will look to score his second Indiana Sires Stakes final win with driver Peter Wrenn in the sulky from post eight.

In the three-year-old trotting colt ranks, Rose Run Parker returned to his winning ways and re-established his own track record with a 1:54 score in the elimination round of stakes action last week at Hoosier Park. Trained by Ron Burke, Rose Run Parker will start from post three in the $75,000 final for Hoosier Park’s all-time leading driver, Ricky Macomber Jr.

Following suit, Airman Batten also re-established his own track record in the two-year-old trotting colt ranks with a 1:55.4 score in his elimination. Driven by LeWayne Miller, Airman Batten will look to keep his five-race winning streak in-tact from post four in the field of ten for trainer Erv Miller. The Erv Miller Stable will also send out Andi’s Alana who will put her eight-race win streak on the line in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for three-year-old trotting fillies. Undefeated in eight starts this season, Andi’s Alana will start from post seven with her regular pilot LeWayne Miller in the sulky.